Beaming smiles

©OECD

Secretary-General Donald J. Johnston (foreground) shares a joke with his successor, former Mexican finance minister, Angel Gurría, at a media briefing by video link on 30 November last. Later this month, on 24 May, at the end of this year’s Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM), Mr Johnston will complete his second 5-year term. Following a news conference at the close of the meeting, he will formally hand over office to Mr Gurría, who was selected by OECD member countries last November.

This year’s MCM will be held at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Quai d'Orsay) in Paris on 23-24 May 2006, and will be chaired by the prime minister of Greece, Kostas Karamanlis. The overarching theme will be “Delivering Prosperity”, and ministers from the 30 OECD countries will discuss the short-term economic outlook, economic stability and performance, reforms for growth and employment, trade and more. Selected emerging and developing economies have been invited to send representatives to some sessions of the meeting.

In parallel, ministers are expected to join discussions at the OECD Forum 2006, which takes place on 22-23 May 2006 at the Centre international des conférences in Paris. This will be the seventh annual Forum which brings together leaders of governments, business, labour, civil society and the media to debate pressing global issues.

For details on the MCM, please click here. For more on the OECD Forum, click here.